Sports play pool

Abstract

A supporting frame with netting material is placed around a swimming pool, either an in ground pool or an above ground pool, to at least partially enclose the pool and provide for the attachment and support of sport apparatus such as basketball, aeroball, and/or water polo goals at opposite sides or ends of the pool and such as a volleyball net stretched across the pool. The netting material may extend along the ends of the pool, around the entire periphery of the pool, and, if desired, across the top of the pool. The netting material ensures that lose sport apparatus, such as balls, used with the attached sport apparatus that contacts the netting material remains in the pool. The supporting frame includes support members that are secured to the pool. If the pool is an above ground pool, the support members are secured to the pool structure. The support members may be substantially rigid members or inflatable members.

1. A sports play pool, comprising:
 pool means holding water to create a water pool wherein the pool means is an above ground swimming pool with inflatable sides; 
 frame means extending upwardly from the pool means to provide a supporting structure above the pool means wherein the frame means includes inflatable tubular support members secured to and extending upwardly from the top of the inflatable sides of the pool, said support members curving as they extend upwardly from the inflatable sides of the pool to which they are secured and coming together over the pool; 
 sport apparatus means secured to the frame means whereby the sport apparatus is attached to and supported above the pool means by the frame means wherein the sport apparatus means includes attachment devices secured to the support members for attachment of the sport apparatus to the support members to be supported in a play position above the pool; 
 netting means supported by the frame means around at least a portion of the periphery of the pool to form backstops to prevent loose sport apparatus used in conjunction with the supported sport apparatus in play of the sport involved from leaving the pool wherein the netting means is netting material supported by the support members around at least a portion of the periphery of the pool; and 
 a cover secured over the water in the pool means and resting on the water to create a sports play surface on the cover. 
 
     
     
       2. A sports play pool according to  claim 1 , wherein the sport apparatus includes goals at opposite sides of the pool and the netting material extends along said opposite sides of the pool. 
     
     
       3. A sports play pool according to  claim 2 , wherein the netting material extends along the entire periphery of the pool to enclose it. 
     
     
       4. A sports play pool according to  claim 3 , wherein netting material extends across the top of the pool. 
     
     
       5. A sports play pool according to  claim 1 , additionally including connectors secured to the support members for selective connection of the sport apparatus and netting. 
     
     
       6. A sports play pool according to  claim 1 , additionally including connectors secured in the pool for connection of sport apparatus. 
     
     
       7. A sports play pool, comprising:
 pool means holding water to create a water pool wherein the pool means is an above ground swimming pool with inflatable sides; 
 frame means extending upwardly from the pool means to provide a supporting structure above the pool means wherein the frame means additionally includes sleeves secured to the inflatable sides of the pool, and substantially rigid support members passing through the sleeves secured to the inflatable sides of the pool to thereby secure them to the inflatable sides of the pool whereby they extend upwardly from the pool; 
 sport apparatus means secured to the frame means whereby the sport apparatus is attached to and supported above the pool means by the frame means; 
 netting means supported by the frame means around at least a portion of the periphery of the pool to form backstops to prevent loose sport apparatus used in conjunction with the supported sport apparatus in play of the sport involved from leaving the pool; and 
 a cover secured over the water in the pool means and resting on the water to create a sports play surface on the cover. 
 
     
     
       8. A sports play pool according to  claim 7 , wherein the sport apparatus includes goals at opposite sides of the pool and the netting material extends along said opposite sides of the pool. 
     
     
       9. A sports play pool according to  claim 8 , wherein the netting material extends along the entire periphery of the pool to enclose it. 
     
     
       10. A sports play pool according to  claim 9 , wherein netting material extends across the top of the pool. 
     
     
       11. A sports play pool according to  claim 7 , additionally including connectors secured to the support members for selective connection of the sport apparatus and netting.